Sunday, August 3, 2014

At Civic Reception: Senator Jikong Donates to Nkambe, Misaje Councils

Prof. Jikong Stephen addressing Nkambe Council councilors

The Senator for Donga
Mantung Division, Jikong Stephen Yeriwa has donated the sum of FCFA 2
million to the Nkambe and Misaje councils to revamp the old day’s scholarship fund
that used to be the pride of the councils. Speaking to councilors in Nkambe and
Misaje, Senator Jikong said that the reasons why he decided to support the Nkambe and Misaje councils with the sum of FCFA 1 million each to revamp the abandoned scholarship fund in
the two councils of Donga Mantung Division tie with his concept of human
development. “We can only have doctors and engineers in this division if we
concentrate on human development”. HRH Prof. Jikong also told the story of how
some of his classmates benefited from the council scholarship fund to be what
they are today yet unfortunately the fund collapsed. “We can only hope of
development when our kids are taught physics and chemistry in schools” he
observed. He reminded councilors that the senate is the house for the old wise
people and it is not of their duty to do what government cannot do. Senator
Jikong also debunked allegations that senators are paid huge allowances. “I am
not the kind that organizes feasting for people to eat and dance”, he told the
councilors of Nkambe and Misaje. Senator Jikong also urged the mayors of Nkambe
and Misaje to write projects and submit to the Ministry of Economy, Planning
and Regional Development for funding.

Oh his part the Mayor of
Nkambe council, Ngabir Paul Bantar told Senator Jikong that “since

Ngabir Paul, Jikong and Ngi Christopher

April 2013,
we have patiently waited to receive you in Nkambe in your new capacity. 20th
May 2013 and 6th November 2013, were too soon for you to come. March
24th 2014 and May 20th 2014, we hoped to see you but in
vain. We are glad that you have made it at last”. In presenting the basket
full-problems facing the Nkambe council area, Ngabir Paul said that “Nkambe-Ndu
Constituencies is our main problem. Why should two councils with two parliamentarians
have one constituency? We know this is a prerogative of the President of the
Republic of Cameroon”. He also decried the nonchalant nature of AES SONEL and
CDE to provide potable water to villages as well as the inadequate approach of
decentralization whereby means have not been sent to the local councils for
effective work. “We the councilors are the only elected officials who have no
monthly allowances. We should be given a monthly allowance commensurate to our
level” Ngabir appealed.

Ecstasy there was in
Misaje when on August 3, Senator Jikong Stephen Yeriwa flanked by his Alternate
Ngi Christopher accompanied by Lon Ernest stormed the council premises. Upon
arrival, they were saluted by the Fuebuen Dance of Chunghe( the Royal Dance). In
his welcome speech, the mayor of Misaje Sammy Mgbata Nforkemba told the senator
that the history of the election of Senator Jikong into the first ever Cameroon’s
senate can never be told to the end without mentioning Misaje sub Division. “For
it is thanks to the dynamism and the political fairness of our illustrious son
H.E Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, on his capacity as the President of Donga Mantung CPDM
Divisional Committee, whom in consultation with other top Donga Mantung
Political elite felt that in terms of fairness and geopolitics, Nwa was better placed
to produce a winning candidate and that in terms of substance, Prof Jikong
Stephen was and is the square peg for the square hole reserved for Donga
Mantung Division in the senate”. To Sammy it is for this reason that the
councilors of Misaje voted overwhelmingly for his candidature. “Based on this
notion, we remain strong behind him and promise to support him in his quest to
develop and bring Donga Mantung Division to the limelight”, Mgbata continued.
The mayor of Misaje also presented a long list of projects which he termed as priority
projects of the municipality. These projects include the construction and
equipping of a science laboratory at GBS Misaje, the provision of potable water
for Akweto, Bem and the construction of two classrooms at GS Chiako-Nkanchi
among others.

Yet tongues are waging in Ndu and Ako over what some politicians say is gross political blunder. Many have questioned whether Jikong is senator for Donga Mantung or Nkambe and Misaje given that the SDF run councils of Ako and Ndu were sidelined. (A suivre)